Does Miles have a verbal commitment from a DC?

Tiger Rant talk says Jimmy Ott reported on his show today that Miles has a DC in mind, agreement in principle more or less (no pun intended) -- will be announced "mid-February." Some "facts" may be lost in the translation but I think that's the gist of it. Speculation is that it will be someone from one of the two Super Bowl teams. I looked up the defensive assistants on the two teams. I don't see viable candidate on the Eagles' staff. The majority of their staff, including the DC Jim Johnson, are in their early 60s. The one possibility on their staff might be Steve Spaguolo, their LB coach, he also has some college DC experience, but his resume didn't blow me away. Over on the Patriots staff, however, there are several pretty darn good candidates. Of course, w/ their DC Crennel probably taking the Browns' job, I would think he may take some of them with him (?) Pepper Johnson is their D-line coach and looks like a good candidate. Eric Mangini is their DB coach, he looks OK but not as impressive as Johnson. Dean Pees is a guy who was the HC at Kent State, and served under none other than Nick Saban as his DC at Mich State! (If this stuff has already been discussed on TF I apologize.)

Total guess on my part -- Pepper Johnson or Dean Pees as LSU DC? Either would be a good choice IMO.

Anyone have any more info on this?

 

Who ever it is better be worth the wait

 

Could also be from an NFL coach that is waiting to see how things play out with the other coaching jobs. IE if I'm on the 49ers staff I may want to wait to see who the Cleveland Browns want to bring in when Crenel becomes head coach. What if I jump to college, and then Crenel wants me to be on his staff?

 

If Crennell does get the Cleveland job, there is speculation here that Belichick will promote from within, and Pees would be a likely candidate for the Patriots DC position. However, Pepper Johnson is a coach that I've grown to admire and respect. I liked him as a player, and he's really proven his worth as a D-Line coach--he's developed some great talent here in New England (Seymore, Warren, Wilfork, Jarvis Green, etc.) and is a very animated and enthusiastic person. He would do wonders as a DC on the collegiate level. Plus he's young and at this stage in his career, looking to make more of a mark.

Also, if these rumors are true (that our DC may be coming from either Phily or New England), then that would explain the delay. I'm sure that any defensive coach on the Patriots staff will be waiting to see if Crennell gets the Browns job (NFL rules exist so that you can't hire someone off another club until they've officially finished their season), the other coaches may be waiting to see how it may affect them promotion-wise.

 

Reading his resume, he looks like he would be a very good hire. The fact he's a minority, all other things equal, is a plus. I can't say that I've really heard of him before ... when I first heard the name "Pepper Johnson" I was thinking of that guy that always was named head coach of various "pro" teams that Memphis would get in random alternate pro leagues (I think he was the head coach of both the Memphis Showboats in the WFL and whatever their team was in the USFL)... anyway, I digress, I think that guy's name was "Pepper Rodgers" anyway.

Looks to me like Johnson is ready for the move to DC, maybe he's the guy?

 

I feel hard pressed BB would let Johnson leave, he may try to bump up his contract to outweigh what we could offer him. Any of the D assistants on BB's staff would suit me...same for Parcells.

 

I can only hope. I mean, when you're only in your 40's, and you own 4 Super Bowl rings (2 as a player for the Giants and 2 as a coach with the Pats), and you're a positions coach on defense with a growing defensive ledgend running the show, to me, there just doesn't seem to be much more room to grow in that current situation.

He needs to get a higher profile job in order to really make a name for himself as a coach. He's got the tools. Just needs the opportunity.

 

No actually, I think the precedent has been set by an NFL coach and owner a LITTLE further south to throw money at an NFL defensive assistant coach that LSU is courting to be its DC ....:yelwink2:

 

Let's do it, he sounds like the guy to me!:thumb: Leslie?

Let me do a little fantasizing ... wouldn't it be great if Johnson has already agreed to be the Tigers' DC after the Super Bowl, and in fact either Miles, he, or both of them, have informed recruits of this?! And this will cause a groundswell of defensive recruits signing w/ LSU (Ishie, Granger, who else?) Or would that be illegal?


Johnson is an NFL alum, has coached under the best (Belichick), has Super Bowl rings as a player and coach, is young, and as a minority would, I think, be an excellent recruiter of African-American athletes. What is wrong with this picture?? Nothing! I really hope this works out and he is the guy.

 

To be honest though, the Patriots don't throw a lot of money at their coaches (Belichick notwithstanding). Both of their coordinators only make $500K (sheesh! Did I just refer to 500K as "only"?! :shock: ) They are very, VERY entrenched at hiring high-character coaches that completely buy-in to the "team concept" and in that "the sum is greater than it's parts".

The Patriots aren't a "cheep" organization. But just like when they look for players. THey have but 2 "high-paid" players. Ty Law ($10.2 million per year) is one, and Tom Brady would be considered the other....if you can count Brady's $5.5 million per year deal he JUST signed. Other than that, they go for the "solid" player that has a good attitude, and will sign for $2 million or less in favor of the "All-Pro" monster that wants $10 million.

The Patriots owner, Bob Kraft, "spreads the wealth". I.E., the Pats have more players making $1-$2 million per year than almost any other NFL team. But they do that by having the fewest $8-$10 million per year guys. They come pretty close to the cap limit....they just have an entire team of players of the same caliber, making nearly the same money. That's why an injury to the Patriot starters like Ty Law, Ty Poole and Seymore doesn't hurt them as much because they can plug in another player that's solid enough to not hurt you *side note: With Law and Poole's injuries, and Randall Gay's performance as a replacement, don't look for the Patriots to keep Ty Law past this season. Law is scheduled to earn $12 million next year. Keeping true to what they practice, Law won't be a Patriot next season....but if he is, you can bet he would have agreed to take a pay cut in order to stay. Look for Randall Gay to get a new contract and become the new starter. Gay is signed through the end of the '05 season and his current contract, which is market value for an undrafted rookie FA, is $230,000. I'd expect a new contract for Gay to be around $500K--which coincidently is what Jarvis Green and Kevin Faulk both make).

They handle their coaching staff the same way.